The The

The The formed in London in 1979 as the vehicle for Matt Johnson's singular artistic vision. Johnson's music was immediately uncompromising and politically engaged — combining post-punk energy with a lyrical depth and social commentary that set him apart from virtually everything else in British music. His vocals were raw and expressive, and his willingness to confront difficult subjects gave his music a moral seriousness unusual in the pop mainstream.

'Soul Mining' (1983) was his breakthrough — a dark, atmospheric record of extraordinary emotional power that produced 'This Is the Day' and 'Uncertain Smile'. 'Infected' (1986) was his masterpiece — a politically furious, sonically ambitious record that addressed Thatcherism, AIDS, and American imperialism with a directness that was genuinely radical. 'Mind Bomb' (1989) and 'Dusk' (1993) were equally strong.

The The have continued sporadically, with Johnson releasing 'Ensoulment' (2024) after a lengthy hiatus. They are remembered as one of the most important and uncompromising acts of the 1980s British music scene — a project whose combination of political fury, emotional depth, and sonic ambition produced music of lasting importance.